The Zealot is my debut historical thriller, complete at 114,000 words. Set in 34 CE in the cities of Jerusalem and Damascus, The Zealot reimagines the fate of Judas Iscariot—not as a dead traitor, but as a living threat. Rather than dying by his own hand following his act of betrayal, Judas is richly rewarded, escapes to Damascus, and becomes obsessed with destroying the small but growing Jewish sect following the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Against this backdrop, The Zealot intertwines the stories of two resilient individuals: Ehud, a man who sacrifices his peaceful life in Jerusalem to pursue a quest for vengeance, and Anna, a woman who must summon the courage and skills needed to protect herself and her sisters from an ominous threat.
Ehud is a former Sicarii assassin who spent years eliminating traitors who collaborated with Israel’s Roman occupiers. Since leaving that life behind, he has filled his days trading olive oil in the markets of Jerusalem and indulging his passion for Egyptian beer. He has also begun spending his evenings at a former brothel that has abruptly transformed into a house fellowship—part of a new sect of believers called The Way. Ehud finds himself drawn to this welcoming community, particularly to one of its members, Anna, a former prostitute who’s determined to help the women she considers her sisters find better lives.
Ehud’s quiet days and budding relationship with Anna are shattered when his closest friend is killed by a mob led by the fanatic Saul of Tarsus. Driven by vengeance, Ehud leaves his comfortable life behind and embarks on a perilous journey from Judea, through Galilee, to the treacherous precincts of Damascus.
Anna is left in Jerusalem with only her ingenuity and courage to protect herself and her sisters from a mysterious adversary who takes pleasure in the suffering of women. With this persistent threat looming, Anna dedicates all her energy to acquiring the tools and skills she’ll need to elude this tireless enemy and save her sisters.
In Damascus, Ehud must draw on everything he learned as a Sicarius to navigate the city’s unfamiliar streets and track down the man responsible for his friend’s death. As he spends his days searching for Saul of Tarsus, he remains unaware of other dangerous forces closing in around him. When his quest nears its destined conclusion, Ehud discovers he is both predator and prey, as a terrible, unseen enemy strikes.